Shinko Rick Slone was ordained as a priest by Zoketsu Norman Fischer in 1997, and received Shiho, Dharma Transmission, from Zoketsu in 2009. He is one of the leaders of the Mountain Source Sangha, a Bay Area lay practice organization. He will be leaving Zen Center in fall 2009 to establish and be the residential teacher for the Eyes of Compassion Zen Center, a residential training center that will serve the poor and marginalized in the Central Coast area.